What is the capital of the UAE?

Abu Dhabi is the capital city and the seat of the federal government of the UAE. It is the largest emirate by area and the second-largest city by population after Dubai.

What is the population of the UAE?

The UAE's population is approximately 9.5–10 million (2024 estimate). Expatriates make up around 88–89% of the total population, making the UAE one of the highest-expatriate-ratio countries in the world.

What currency does the UAE use?

The UAE uses the UAE Dirham (AED), which has been pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of approximately 3.6725 AED per USD since 1997.

What language is spoken in the UAE?

Arabic is the official language. English is very widely spoken and is effectively the language of business, tourism, and daily life for the large expatriate population.

What are the seven emirates?

The seven emirates are: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah. Abu Dhabi is the largest by area; Dubai is the most populous.

What time zone is the UAE in?

The UAE operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is UTC+4. The UAE does not observe daylight saving time, so the offset remains +4 throughout the year.

UAE Country Facts

Instant reference for key facts about the UAE — capital, population, area, currency, language, time zone, and more.

Overview

Official Name

United Arab Emirates

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Largest City

Dubai

Continent

Asia (Arabian Peninsula)

Country Code

AE / ARE

Calling Code

+971

Geography

Total Area

83,600 km² (32,278 sq mi)

Borders

Saudi Arabia (S & W), Oman (E & N)

Coastline

Persian Gulf (N & W), Gulf of Oman (E)

Highest Point

Jebel Jais — 1,934 m (6,345 ft)

Climate

Hot desert (BWh) — very hot summers, mild winters

Time Zone

GST — UTC+4 (no daylight saving)

Coordinates (approx. center)

24° N, 54° E

Number of Emirates

7 emirates

People & Language

Population

~9.9 million (2024 est.)

Expatriate Share

~88–89% of total population

Official Language

Arabic

Business Language

English (widely used)

Major Religion

Islam (state religion, ~76%), others

Demonym

Emirati

Government

Government Type

Federal constitutional monarchy

Head of State

President (elected by Supreme Council)

Federal Legislature

Federal National Council — 40 members

Federation Founded

December 2, 1971

Independence From

United Kingdom (1971)

UN Member Since

1971

Economy

Currency

UAE Dirham (AED)

USD Peg Rate

1 USD ≈ 3.6725 AED (fixed since 1997)

GDP (nominal)

~$504 billion USD (2023 est.)

GDP per Capita

~$49,000 USD (2023 est.)

Key Industries

Oil & gas, tourism, finance, aviation, trade

Internet TLD

.ae / .امارات

Driving Side

Right

Major Airports

Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ)

Summary

Instant reference for key facts about the UAE — capital, population, area, currency, language, time zone, and more.

How it works

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Use cases

Students researching the UAE for school or university assignments.
Travelers planning a trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other emirates.
Quiz participants brushing up on Middle Eastern geography.
Journalists or writers needing verified baseline statistics about the UAE.
Business professionals looking for a quick country briefing.
Trivia enthusiasts checking facts about the United Arab Emirates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-22 · Reviewed by Nham Vu